Moving on Up!

(Tina) What a lovely place Akaroa is, sorry Dad, but its a bit of a French settlement stuck right out on the Banks Peninsula of NZ and it really is beautiful, we had a lovely two night stay, even the local pub stayed open after 10pm! After our whirlwind tour of the South Island is was a lovely place to rest up.


(Lynda) Before we left we wanted to visit the Marae (anyone who was paying attention to Karen's blog will know what that is) a Maori meeting house, and yet again a lovely little church nixt to it (the churches here are fab - Tina says they remind her of Little House on the Prairie).


(Tina) On Saturday we checked out of the lovely La Rochelle Motel, handed our hire car, undamaged again, just, back and took the plane to Auckland. Tour operator Cousin Karen was there to meet us with a sign (she was late again), won't linger on that, and a few tiki tours then a bit later we went to her friend Rowena's for a quick shower and change to get ready for a party at Kerry's house, a vinyl party!


Big thanks to all Karen's friends who made us so welcome and we had a brill time, so nice again to be in a lovely warm environment, big hello to all our new NZ buddies, Sue and Bruce, Kerry and Ian, Rowena and Steve and Laurel. Have a brill time in China the Bullocks!!


Felt like a pile of something or other on Sunday morning, so long since we did any serious boozing had the mother of all hangovers, makes you wonder why you did it!! Got home to Warkworth (Karen and Lukes) early afternoon and never really rallied, so much like the day after a party at home, however between us all we managed to put the most delicious roast dinner on the table, Roast Lamb (NZ style), roast tattiies, cabbage, peas, brussels, yorkies, mint sauce and gravy, so scrummy, then bed, thats all you can do when your feeling that bad!!


For all that is was a great weekend, thanks to you all for your lovely welcome!!


Monday morning dawned and Lynda went off for a hairdo whilst Karen and I did Warkworth shops. Had a great couple of hours wandering round shops, then picked Lyndy-ann up and went back to Karens, loaded up the car and made our way north to Uncle Normans and Auntie Jans. About an hours drive (lots of roadworks) but arrived ok, without getting lost.


Drove up the drive and Southfork was waiting for us, any family member old enough will remember how we used to refer to our rich Uncle Fred from Fulham, now we are going to call him our rich Uncle Norm in Maungataroto. Wow, its ab fab, a beautiful spot, and four cows in the meadow, thats beyond the orchard, its absolutely gorgeous!!


Had a good old catch up and a few bottles of wine, burned all our photos of our trip onto DVD's and then bored A Jan & U Norm with them, great big prawns in a lovely stir fry for dinner, a great time, and lots more to come.


Tomorrow we are going to the Bay of Islands and staying (with A Jan & U Norm) in Kiri Kiri where they have a holiday home (told you they are our rich relatives) for a couple of nights and then Thursday are going to see cousin Hayley in Dargaville. Will report more next weekend after the big party (12th April, Uncle Normans 70th).


(Lynda) Hello again, I am here!! Tina's said it all really, but just want to say that last night sitting with Uncle Norman and Auntie Jan and reminiscing and hearing old stories that I hadn't heard before was just the highlight of the trip for me and what it was all about. We had the best of times and it's going to be great hearing more over the next few days. Mum and Uncle Tony you really must catch up Uncle Norman's a whizz on the old computer! The only sad thing is that Mum, Dad and Uncle Tony arn't here, that would have made it complete. Never mind I'm sure you'll all make it next year and you oldies can have a great old time!!

Also being with Karen's doris' made me miss all the girlies, so a big hello, miss you loads and see you soon.

Sorry this is a short one will make up for it next time.

Lots of love to you all, hope the snowing stops soon, L & T xxxxxxxxxxxx

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